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Ntp CVE-2016-1550

MEDIUM
Information Exposure (CWE-200)
2017-01-06 cret@cert.org
5.3
CVSS 3.0 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V14 - Data Protection Data exposure prevention
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Collection, Discovery

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 5.3 (MEDIUM). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required. EPSS exploitation probability: 3.13%.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could access sensitive data that should not be disclosed by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).
No patch listed yet 3.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

An exploitable vulnerability exists in the message authentication functionality of libntp in ntp 4.2.8p4 and NTPSec a5fb34b9cc89b92a8fef2f459004865c93bb7f92. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Minimize information in error messages, implement proper access controls, encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Exposure of Sensitive Information (CWE-200), which allows attackers to access sensitive data that should not be disclosed. An exploitable vulnerability exists in the message authentication functionality of libntp in ntp 4.2.8p4 and NTPSec a5fb34b9cc89b92a8fef2f459004865c93bb7f92. An attacker can send a series of crafted messages to attempt to recover the message digest key. Affected products include: Ntp.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 5.3 MEDIUM
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
None
Availability
None

DescriptionCVE.org

An exploitable vulnerability exists in the message authentication functionality of libntp in ntp 4.2.8p4 and NTPSec a5fb34b9cc89b92a8fef2f459004865c93bb7f92. An attacker can send a series of crafted messages to attempt to recover the message digest key.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
3.1%
Top 13% exploitable
Data Quality
3 sources
Confidence: Low

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity MEDIUM
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 3.1%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
Yes
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

29
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +3
CVSS: +26
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.

Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org

cpe:2.3:a:ntp:ntp:4.2.8:p4:*:*:*:*:*:*

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Crypto-NAK packets in ntpd in NTP 4.2.x before 4.2.8p4, and 4.3.x before 4.3.77 allows remote attackers to bypass authen

CVE-2013-5211 MEDIUM POC
5.0 Jan 02

The monlist feature in ntp_request.c in ntpd in NTP before 4.2.7p26 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service

CVE-2016-7434 HIGH POC
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The read_mru_list function in NTP before 4.2.8p9 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a craf

CVE-2015-7855 MEDIUM POC
6.5 Aug 07

The decodenetnum function in ntpd in NTP 4.2.x before 4.2.8p4, and 4.3.x before 4.3.77 allows remote attackers to cause

CVE-2014-9295 HIGH POC
7.5 Dec 20

Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in ntpd in NTP before 4.2.8 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a

CVE-2016-4957 HIGH
7.5 Jul 05

ntpd in NTP before 4.2.8p8 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) via a crypto-NAK packet.

CVE-2014-9294 HIGH POC
7.5 Dec 20

util/ntp-keygen.c in ntp-keygen in NTP before 4.2.7p230 uses a weak RNG seed, which makes it easier for remote attackers

CVE-2014-9293 HIGH POC
7.5 Dec 20

The config_auth function in ntpd in NTP before 4.2.7p11, when an auth key is not configured, improperly generates a key,

CVE-2015-7853 CRITICAL
9.8 Aug 07

The datalen parameter in the refclock driver in NTP 4.2.x before 4.2.8p4, and 4.3.x before 4.3.77 allows remote attacker

CVE-2015-7978 HIGH
7.5 Jan 30

NTP before 4.2.8p6 and 4.3.0 before 4.3.90 allows a remote attackers to cause a denial of service (stack exhaustion) via

CVE-2015-7705 CRITICAL
9.8 Aug 07

The rate limiting feature in NTP 4.x before 4.2.8p4 and 4.3.x before 4.3.77 allows remote attackers to have unspecified

CVE-2015-5300 HIGH
7.5 Jul 21

The panic_gate check in NTP before 4.2.8p5 is only re-enabled after the first change to the system clock that was greate

References

Advisories & patches
REF http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2016-May/183647.html REF http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2016-May/184669.html REF http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00034.html REF http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00037.html REF http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00052.html REF http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00001.html REF http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-06/msg00020.html REF http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-07/msg00026.html REF http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-08/msg00042.html REF http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2016-05/msg00114.html REF http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/136864/Slackware-Security-Advisory-ntp-Updates.html REF http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1552.html REF http://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20160428-ntpd REF http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3629 REF http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinapr2016-2952098.html REF http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinapr2016-2952096.html REF http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/538233/100/0/threaded REF http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/archive/1/538233/100/0/threaded REF http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/88261 REF http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035705 REF http://www.talosintelligence.com/reports/TALOS-2016-0084/ REF http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3096-1 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016:1141 REF https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-211752.pdf REF https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-497656.pdf REF https://security.FreeBSD.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-16:16.ntp.asc REF https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201607-15 REF https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20171004-0002/ REF https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-21-103-11 REF https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-21-159-11 REF https://www.arista.com/en/support/advisories-notices/security-advisories/1332-security-advisory-19 REF https://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3629 REF https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/718152 REF https://www.talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2016-0084

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